Song Meaning
This song paints a picture of enduring love against the backdrop of fleeting trends. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of permanence, contrasting the narrator's relationship with transient forms of entertainment like radio, telephone, and movies. These elements, familiar and seemingly stable, are dismissed as "passing fancies" that will eventually fade.
The core tension lies in the assertion of love's lasting power versus the inevitable decay of all things. The narrator uses grand, almost hyperbolic imagery of natural and man-made wonders to emphasize this point. The idea that even the mighty Rockies and Gibraltar are "only made of clay" serves to diminish their perceived permanence, thereby elevating the narrator's love to an even higher, more absolute status.
The true craft here is in the juxtaposition of the mundane (radio, movies) with the monumental (Rockies, Gibraltar), all to serve the singular, unwavering declaration: "our love is here to stay." This repetition, especially following the imagery of crumbling mountains, creates a powerful sense of defiance and absolute certainty. The lyrics suggest that while the external world is subject to change and erosion, the bond between the speakers is an immutable force.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their bold, almost defiant, assertion of eternal love. By employing such dramatic comparisons, the song doesn't just state that love will last; it builds a case for its invincibility, making the declaration feel both grand and deeply personal. It’s a powerful statement of commitment, grounded in the idea that some things, unlike even mountains, are truly built to last.